State planning to reopen fishing on a river owned by a tribe

2/23/18 10:51 AM

BREMERTON, Wash. — Washington officials are looking to reopen salmon fishing on the Skokomish River this year.

Kitsap Sun reports the Skokomish Tribe, who controls the lower stretch of the river, began banning non-tribal anglers from fishing there in 2016 after the U.S. Department of Interior ruled that the river was part of its reservation.

The state Attorney General’s office is looking to challenge the tribe’s ownership of the river in court.

Assistant Attorney General Mike Grossmann said on Wednesday that because the state cannot sue the tribe or the federal government, it will try to provoke the federal government into suing the state by reopening recreation fishing on the river.

Skokomish Tribal Chairman Charles Miller says he is not surprised that the state is trying to regain control of the river.

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